Tree removal permit rules in Rensselaer County, NY — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
No county-wide tree removal ordinance. City of Troy protects street trees and certain heritage trees under Code Chapter 260. Most towns regulate tree removal only in wetlands, steep slopes, or subdivision-review contexts.
Rensselaer County has no countywide tree removal ordinance. The City of Troy (Code Chapter 260) requires a permit from the Tree Commission to remove any street tree, heritage tree, or tree within historic district boundaries; violations are double the replacement cost. Private tree removal on residentially zoned parcels in most county towns does not require a permit. Regulatory triggers arise from: (1) NY DEC regulated wetlands under ECL Article 24 (permit required for any tree cutting within 100 ft of wetland); (2) Army Corps 404 permit for federal wetlands; (3) steep slope ordinances in Brunswick and North Greenbush (over 15 percent slope triggers review); (4) subdivision approval in all towns where tree clearing above 25 percent of lot area requires Planning Board approval.
Troy Code 260 unauthorized street tree removal: replacement cost at 2x plus up to $1,000 fine. DEC wetland violation (ECL 71-2303): up to $10,000 per day. Unauthorized subdivision clearing: stop-work order plus $350 per day under Town Law 268.
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See how Rensselaer County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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